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England 2014: Wednesday the 13th: Bath and Lacock

Minerva Sulis, from the Roman Baths in Bath, England

Minerva Sulis, from the Roman Baths in Bath, England–simply exquisite.  I SO need to get out my pencils and watercolors and sketch this head.

Wednesday, August 13 was such a packed day that I’ve had to split it into TWO posts.  When I planned the trip, I wanted to give Eli as good a feeling for various parts of England and times in its history as I could manage in two weeks.  We went from over 2000 years ago to early Roman Britain to medieval to Georgian to Oxford/universities to modern in various places.   Stonehenge is really hard to reach (impossible) by train, and I didn’t want to drive, so that meant a coach tour.  Very early on in the planning, I discovered a special tour that ran from an 11 a.m. pick up in London to Bath, Lacock and Stonehenge, home about 10 p.m.   This post will be the first two stops.

On the way to meet the coach, I had to hug a pillar box (for mail) just in case they ecome a vanishing artifact, like the red phone booths (after all, how many pay phones are there in YOUR town now?  Precious few!)

On the way to meet the bus tour, I had to hug a pillar box (for mail) just in case they become a vanishing artifact, like the red phone booths (after all, how many pay phones are there in YOUR town now? Precious few!) .  Yes, happy to be back in England!

As with my earlier posts, I’ll put most of the info in the photo captions as there are so many photos.

The English countryside, headed west from London to Bath.  Wales is in the distance.

The English countryside, headed west from London to Bath. Wales is in the distance.

In Bath, our guide had the bus stop at the top of the hill so we could walk down to the center of town.  He said these trees were planted July 4, 1776.  Not sure how they know that, but the ring of trees must date to about them.  They are in a circle in the center of Georgian homes on a circular area/park-let.

In Bath, our guide had the bus stop at the top of the hill so we could walk down to the center of town. He said these trees were planted July 4, 1776. Not sure how they know that, but the ring of trees must date to about then. They are in a circle in the center of Georgian homes on a circular area/park-let.

Our guide wanted us to see the view down to bath but also to see a quintessential Georgian “crescent” of homes.  These would have been for the well-to-do as they are tall.  Transport yourself to something Jane Austen-ish!

This neighborhood in Bath has been well-to-do for a good 300 years.

This neighborhood in Bath has been well-to-do for a good 300 years.

We then walked down the hill through town to the Roman Baths.  The building on the other side of the horde of tourists is the Roman baths.

We then walked down the hill through town to the Roman Baths. The building on the other side of the horde of tourists is the Roman baths.

Not sure of the date of this building, but obviously it isn't Roman.  But it was decorated incredibly beautifully with "classic" themed images.

Not sure of the date of this building, but obviously it isn’t Roman. But it was decorated incredibly beautifully with “classic” themed images.

One of the triangular panels beneath the dome--just love the artwork, the "fit the space" composition, the delicacy of the lines of the figure

One of the triangular panels beneath the dome–just love the artwork, the “fit the space” composition, the delicacy of the lines of the figure

Drum roll:  the Roman Baths.  A tad green, eh?  But folks have gone to take the waters and regain health in Bath for nigh on to 1700 years.  And The US of A  is scarcely 300 years including many colonial days...

Drum roll: the Roman Baths. A tad green, eh? But folks have gone to take the waters and regain health in Bath for nigh on to 1700 years. And The US of A is scarcely 300 years including most of our time as colonies…

Never one to miss a sewing opportunity or idea, however, I snapped this young woman's backpack with button pocket while at the baths.

Never one to miss a sewing opportunity or idea, I snapped this young woman’s backpack with button pocket while at the baths.

As always, I am fascinated with "how did they do that back then?"  This is a hollowed out brick used in creating an arch, with deep scored patterns to help the mortar stick.  My thought:  what a great rubbing that would make!

As always, I am fascinated with “how did they do that back then?” This is a hollowed out brick used in creating an arch, with deep scored patterns to help the mortar stick. My thought: what a great rubbing that would make!

And carvings.  Now can anyone tell me that whoever created E.T. (remember the movie, "phone home" and the trail of Reese's pieces?) had NOT seen this carving?

And carvings. Now can anyone tell me that whoever created E.T. (remember the movie, “phone home” and the trail of Reese’s pieces?) had NOT seen this carving?  It is TOTALLY E.T.!

A thousand years ago when I was in England in college I visited the baths, but I had not realized or remembered that the waters are WARM.  This interior waterfall that directs the mineral-laden water to the bathing pools clearly shows *how* warm!

A thousand years ago when I was in England in college I visited the baths, but I had not realized or remembered that the waters are WARM. This interior waterfall that directs the steaming mineral-laden water to the bathing pools clearly shows *how* warm!

And when I entered the room with this Green Man it simply took my breath away.  I KNOW they displays and museum weren't this good in 1978!

And when I entered the room with this Green Man it simply took my breath away. I KNOW the displays and museum weren’t this good in 1978!

Back outside of the baths is the Cathedral in Bath.  I hadn't realized that in England a city is a place that has a cathedral.  The rest are towns.  Makes it pretty straightforward, eh?  And as always, incredible artistry in the carvings.

Back outside of the baths is the Cathedral in Bath. I hadn’t realized that in England a city is a place that has a cathedral. The rest are towns. Makes it pretty straightforward, eh? And as always, incredible artistry in the carvings.

The next ones are for my dear friend Marie Z, who has a thing for angels:

On one of the towers of the Cathedral.  Note most of the angels are going up, but one is falling.

On one of the towers of the Cathedral. Note most of the angels are going up, but this shot of a portion of the tower shows how one is falling, too.

We were to meet the bus near to the Cathedral, where there was a park down by the river, with this beautiful angel.

We were to meet the bus near to the Cathedral, where there was a park down by the river, with this beautiful angel.

I loved the wings so much that I had to take this close-up.  And I must say, traveling with a digital camera and being able to take a gazillion shots, delete the flubs and not worry about how long one's supply of ten rolls of 36 negatives each would last, is really nice!  And being to see that you FLUBBED all the shots before you leave so you can take them again!

I loved the wings so much that I had to take this close-up. And I must say, traveling with a digital camera and being able to take a gazillion shots, delete the flubs and not worry about how long one’s supply of ten rolls of 36 negatives each would last, is really nice! And being to see that you FLUBBED all the shots before you leave so you can take them again!

Professor Slughorn's home

Professor Slughorn’s home.  Our next stop was a tiny town, Lacock.  Wikipedia entry here; the town dates from the 1200s and is now largely a National Trust property, but folks live in the old homes.  This is a more modern house on the outskirts of town and was in the Harry Potter movie with Prof. Slughorn (we wanted to do favorite books on this trip).

An intersection in Lacock; these homes are still lived in, with wiring and plumbing added 500+ years after they were built!

An intersection in Lacock; these homes are still lived in, with wiring and plumbing added 500+ years after they were built!

I took a number of photos of "chimney pots,"  often with birds. Love the feathers ruffled by the wind on this gray day.

I took a number of photos of “chimney pots,” often with birds. Love the feathers ruffled by the wind on this gray day.

In the Harry Potter films, this was Harry's parent's house when he was born.  Cool, eh?

In the Harry Potter films, this was Harry’s parent’s house when he was born. Cool, eh? (And look at those clouds!)

And one more typical street in Lacock.

And one more typical street in Lacock.

We had a pub supper here, then went on to Stonehenge, which will be my next England post.   It was an experience of a lifetime…AND I actually have a 2 minute video for you all when we walked near the stones.  It is so wonderful to re-live this trip–now I need to find time to SKETCH!  We were so busy doing so much on the trip that I scarcely lifted a pen or pencil.

 

5 Responses to “England 2014: Wednesday the 13th: Bath and Lacock”

  1. Yvonne Watson Says:

    Hi Sarah
    Really pleased you enjoyed your visit to the UK.
    Lovely photos
    Yvonne in the UK

  2. Jan Bain Says:

    Love Lacock – quintessential English town. Enjoying reading your love of the visit.

  3. Rachel Parris Says:

    Love this post. Every bit especially the baths and the Harry houses. I am always struck by timeline comparisons. Our beloved country is really just a dot in history…a very influential dot, but just a dot nonetheless.

  4. Sandy Snowden Says:

    Hey, now for sure you should have said you were here before you came! I could have driven you there.
    Did you have a cream tea in the Bath Assembly Rooms?
    Not far from Bath is a strange castle with grotto where they filmed the Kevin Costner Robin Hood. I took my Mom there when she came some years ago.

    We could have also came back via Duchess Kate’s home town, stopped in Reading and saw where Jane Austin went to school and a very accurate copy of the Bayeux Tapestry done by a group of Victorian ladies.

    In Bracknell (where I am) is where Harry’s Muggle house was filmed (already with the quaint name of Picket Post Close) and not far to where they filmed some of the forest scenes such as the one where the flying car crashed and with the big spiders.

    But, Glad you came anyway. You should put in a Proposal to teach at the Festival of Quilts.
    Sandy in the UK

  5. Marie Z. Johansen Says:

    SB:
    Thanks for the Angels!
    Our ancestors knew how important they are!

    Thanks too for the images and documentary of the motherland. There are times when I wish I had been born in that hallowed land of history!